China: Joint Statement by International Support Committee to Liu Xiaobo

Human Rights Watch, China: Joint Statement by International Support Committee to Liu Xiaobo, 12 October 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/508653e52.html [accessed 3 August 2015]

Disclaimer

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

On the eve of the announcement of a new Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, the following organizations: Christian Action for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT), Act for Human Rights (ADH), Tibetan People Support Committee (CSPT), Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Freedom Now, Human Rights Foundation (HRF), International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), Human Rights League (LDH), Human Rights Watch (HRW), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Global Justice Center (GJC), China Solidarity and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM), members of the Support Committee for Liu Xiaobo request, once again, a strong mobilization of the international community for the release of Chinese writer Liu Xiaobo, 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, distinguished for his "endless efforts and non-violent struggle in favour of human rights in China."

Liu Xiaobo is currently serving an 11-year sentence in prison for defending freedom and democracy and participating in the drafting of the "Charter 08," a manifesto endorsed by more than ten thousand Chinese citizens, advocating the plurality of political parties, the independence of the judiciary and respect of human rights.

He has been incarcerated since December 2008 and is currently in Jinzhou Prison, located in the province of Liaoning with little contact with his family. This is a flagrant violation of the law. Only three people are allowed to visit Liu Xiaobo: his wife, Liu Xia, who has the right to visit him every two or three months, and his two brothers who can visit him at Jinzhou Prison twice a year. Visits must be individual (with rare exceptions), scheduled in advance, and are strictly supervised. Prison authorities closely monitor the topics of conversations between Liu Xiaobo and his family, in order to ensure that no information from outside is passed to the writer.

The treatment of Liu Xiaobo constitutes a serious violation of human rights under international law and the provisions of the Chinese Constitution.

The members of the Committee express their deep concern over reports that the Chinese authorities are increasing their pressure on his wife Liu Xia, who has been under house arrest since October 2010, and making the conditions of her daily life extremely difficult. Two policewomen live permanently at her residence, while others in civilian clothes monitor continuously the area around the building in order to avoid any contact with the outside world.

Faced with the inflexibility and deafness of the authorities, the Support Committee for Liu Xiaobo is calling on international bodies and national governments to intensify their efforts to ensure the release of the only Nobel Laureate in the world who is currently imprisoned.